110 – Dental Abscess Symptoms and Causes

Dental Abscess Symptoms and Causes

A tooth abscess is an accumulation of pus due to a bacterial infection. Abscess can occur in different regions of the tooth for different reasons. A periapical abscess, for example, occurs at the tip of the tooth root, while a periodontal abscess occurs in the gums near the root of a tooth.

Causes
Dental abscess happens when a bacterial infection settles in some cavity between the gum and the bones of the face or neck. An infected tooth that is not properly treated can form an abscess. Other causes are gum inflammation (gingivitis) and caries or cavities.

Types of Abscesses
A tooth abscess can occur in different regions of the mouth and for different reasons. There are three types of dental abscesses:
* Pericoronary abscess: when the tooth is emerging or partially erupted and the gum is still covering part of it. If there is contamination there, an abscess may develop.
* Periodontal abscess: when the infection occurs in the gums near the root of a tooth, such as when a piece of food gets stuck and is not properly removed when brushing.
* Periapical abscess: occurs at the tip of the tooth root, usually caused by untreated caries or bacterial infiltration in a previous caries treatment.

Symptoms
The most common signs of tooth abscess are:
* Toothache
* Redness in the affected area
* touch sensitivity
* pus drainage
* Difficulty opening your mouth or chewing
* swollen neck nodes
* Dark tooth

A late-stage tooth abscess can also develop into osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone caused by bacteria that are present in the tooth abscess and spread through the bloodstream. Symptoms of this problem include:
* Nausea
* vomit
* fever
* Chills
* Diarrhea

Diagnosis
It is possible to diagnose a dental abscess with just a physical exam. However, it may be necessary to take an x-ray of the tooth to check that there are no infections in other areas of the mouth that have not yet formed abscesses.

Risk Factors
Among the factors most associated with the appearance of abscess are lack of oral hygiene and a diet high in sugar. Additionally, some people are genetically more prone to abscesses.

Seeking Medical Help
If you have a tooth abscess, make an appointment with your dentist. If the infection becomes painful to the point of being unbearable, you will need to have a drain. If you have symptoms such as fever, chills, vomiting, or diarrhea from the abscess, make an appointment with your doctor.

Treatment Options
Incision and drainage of the abscess
For this treatment, the dentist may make a small cut in the abscess, remove the pus, and clean the area with a saline solution.

Root Channel Treatment
This procedure can help eliminate the infection and save your tooth. For this, the dentist removes the central diseased tissue (pulp) using a drill and drains the abscess. He or she then seals the cavity and root canals of the tooth. A crown is also placed on the tooth to increase its rigidity, especially if they are molars. If you care for your restored tooth properly, it can last a lifetime.